January 15, 2006

Please daven for Ha-Rav Yitzchak Kaduri

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri, known as the Elder of the Kabbalist Rabbis, was rushed to the Bikur Holim Hospital in Jerusalem this morning with pneumonia. Doctors are trying to stablize his condition.

Rabbi Yitzchak (ben Tufaha) Kaduri, aged 105, was hospitalized for a week earlier this month, after contracting what was called a light case of pneumonia and a serious case of influenza. The patient continued to greet and bless visitors even from his hospital bed, but after a few days asked to be released in order to "again meet people who come to receive blessings." He continued his custom of studying daily passages of Torah, Prophets, Writings, Mishna, Gmara, Zohar, Jewish law and Jewish ethics throughout his hospital stay.

Arutz-7 Hebrew Radio showhost Yehoshua Meiri, a noted Arab-affairs commentator and student of Rabbi Kaduri, visited Rabbi Kaduri at his hospital bedside last Sunday together with the Kabbalist's grandson, Rabbi Yossi Kaduri. Meiri reported that the elder Rabbi Kaduri, with his usual cheerful countenance, told them, "The time of Redemption has come."

Rabbi Kaduri arrived in the Holy Land in 1908, then returned to Iraq to study with the famed Ben Ish Chai, and then returned to the Land in 1916. He studied in Yeshivat Porat Yosef in the Old City of Jerusalem, and later in Yeshivat Nachlat Yitzchak in western Jerusalem. The Rabbi quickly gained a reputation for his profound study of Torah law and Kabbalah, piercing insights, and great piety."

He is known for being the last of the Torah giants, one who was recognized by Rabbi Shach and others from all parts of the Torah world," Meiri said.